Coventry City has responded after the Telegraph revealed agents working for Otium, the Sisu company that runs CCFC, have been in secret talks to replace the club’s training ground with houses.

The six-acre site, off Leamington Road in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, has been listed in Rugby Borough Council’s ‘local plan’ as a potential location for up to 75 homes.

Rugby’s local plan was published this week and a council spokesman confirmed the training ground land had been added at the request of agents working on behalf of Otium Entertainment, the Sisu company responsible for the day-to-day operations of the football club.

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A Coventry City spokesperson said: “Coventry City FC can confirm that the club’s training base at Ryton has been included in the Rugby Borough Council’s local plan as a potential redevelopment site.

“The club have worked alongside Rugby Council, Sport England and representatives from Ryton Parish Council to get the land proposed for housing in the local plan, and the consultation period for that will begin on September 26. The club will be engaging fully with the consultation process.

“The objective is to relocate to a new modern site (currently under review), which will act as an inspirational environment and will better serve the needs of the football club as a whole.

“The club would like to reiterate that the current site cannot be developed until it has demonstrated to Rugby Council and Sport England that an adequate replacement has been provided for.”

Chief reporter Simon Gilbert on this morning's Ryton news

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Earlier today the Telegraph revealed talks have been taking place for weeks.

Sources at the council have also indicated several developers have already expressed an interest in building houses on the site which, based on other land deals in the borough, could generate well in excess of £2million if sold off for housing.

Land Registry documents show the land is owned by Otium Entertainment and the company secured the site for £360,000 in July 2013. This was around the same time that Otium secured the football club’s ‘golden share’ - its right to play in the Football League - following administration.

One significant clause in the local plan is that the training ground could only be replaced with housing “when adequate replacement of pitch provision is made to the satisfaction of Rugby Borough Council and Sport England in accordance with national planning policy.”

Ryton training ground

But a spokesman for Rugby council said: “The site was initially put forward by agents working for Otium Entertainment in 2014 but it was excluded at the time because of the sports pitch issue.

“But we have now had assurances that the issues with replacing the pitches is resolvable.”

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He added: “The most recent contact with the agents was on Thursday (September 22).

“The agents are working with the knowledge and consent of the land owner.”

The club moved their training ground to Ryton in the early 1960s under legendary CCFC manager Jimmy Hill.

Coventry City players taking part in the first session of pre-season training at their Ryton training ground.

It is currently categorised as green belt, but that protection would be removed if the government rubber stamps the council’s local plan which forecasts how the town expects to deal with population growth and required housing between now and 2031.

If a government inspector approves the plan, it would clear the way for developers to build houses on the training ground.

Coventry City officials have previously insisted they plan to build a new stadium as well as a training and Academy hub, although there have been no public signs of progress over several years.

Earlier this year the club said it would have been willing to move it’s Academy and first team facilities to the Alan Higgs Centre, in Allard Way, as doubts over its future at the site increased with a temporary deal due to expire in July 2017 and redevelopment plans for the centre advanced.